Naxal menace: Naveen seeks Centre’s help

BHUBANESWAR: As the Maoist menace was showing no signs of decline in the State, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday sought assistance in a series of areas from the Central Government to cope with the situation.

Addressing the Chief Ministers’ Conference on Internal Security in New Delhi, Mr. Patnaik demanded sanction of five more India Reserve Battalions for the State.

The Chief Minister urged the Centre to assist the State in terms of manpower and financial resources to strengthen its internal security system. He requested the Centre to expand the scope and coverage of the current police modernisation scheme. The size of police modernisation scheme for Orissa should be enhanced from Rs. 26.5 crores to Rs.60 crore, he said.

With a view to strengthening the police force, Mr. Patnaik demanded sanction of Central assistance for upgrading the capability of remaining 58 police stations located in the areas affected by naxalite violence. He also requested the Centre to consider on priority basis deployment of two more battalions of the Central paramilitary forces in the naxalite-hit regions. The Chief Minster also reiterated his demand for increased support for the proposed Vijayawada-Ranchi Highway to improve the communication network in 14 extremist-prone districts in the State. He further sought sanction of establishment of a coastal police station at Puri.
Plea for special grant

Mr. Patnaik asked the Centre to give a special grant of Rs. 30 crores for the Training Resource Centre of Special Operations Group that was coming up near Bhubaneswar. The Centre is being developed into a permanent training resource centre for counter terrorism, jungle warfare and anti-extremist operations.

With regard to the new police system that will be implemented in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack on January 1, Mr. Patnaik urged the Centre to provide Rs. 15 crores to facilitate the launching of the new police Commissionerate system. Mr. Patnaik requested the Centre to develop and implement a composite socio-economic package for the naxalite-affected areas, and a comprehensive dialogue on the developmental issues to check the spread of Left wing extremism. There was a need for relaxation of existing norms of the ongoing schemes and creation of a special fund for direct and immediate intervention to fill up the critical gaps, he suggested.